Page 43 of Starcrossed Colorado

I felt sick.

Maybe it shouldn’t have mattered so much to lose this small object, but I’d put my heart and soul on those pages. I’d written down my pain over what had happened with my ex. The shame I still felt over the entire scandal. And so many other things too. I’d tried to turn that heartache into something beautiful and meaningful, even if only to me.

And now it was just…ruined.

I yelled a sound of frustration. I’d had it with this apartment.

Stella barked just before I heard someone call out, “Emma?”

Was that Ashford? It sounded like he was in the hall. I stumbled over to my front door and opened it. Ashford was in the hallway, his back to me. He whirled around. The tightness in his expression turned to intense worry as he strode toward me.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, voice thick.

“What’s wrong? What happened?”

“It’s…” The words got stuck in my throat.

Ashford put a hand on my shoulder and steered me back into my apartment. Stella’s tail wagged, and she kept looking from Ashford to me, both excited and confused. I heard him flip the lock. He stalked around my apartment like he was searching for something.

“What happened in here?”

He’d seen my bedroom.

Ashford stormed back out, fists clenched. But his frown relaxed as he reached me. “How long has that been leaking? It looks bad.”

He eased me down onto the tiny loveseat, squeezing in beside me. He was so warm and solid. His arm went around my shoulders. I leaned against him, letting my weight fall into his side. Stella sat at my feet, her head on my knee.

“It was the storm this morning. That leak opened up. I’d seen the stain before, but I didn’t realize it was a current problem.”

“Did you report it to the landlord?”

I bristled, inching back. “OfcourseI did. I told the property manager who lives downstairs. Sheldon. I’m not an idiot.”

“No, you’re not. I wasn’t suggesting it. Looks like Sheldon didn’t do his job.”

I shook my head. “I was busy all day. I didn’t have a chance to check up on him. Just got here and found…thismess.” I waved a hand at my bedroom, but I realized I was still holding my sodden journal.

Ashford took it gently from my grip. “What’s this?”

And that’s when I lost it.

Hot, humiliating tears cascaded down my face. I turned my head, wiping the teardrops away as fast as I could.

Why did I have to do this in front of him?

The moment couldn’t have been any more awkward. I had no idea why Ashford had come inside my building, but I had no doubt he was about to find an excuse to take off. He didn’t want to see my embarrassing display of emotion. He barely even liked me.

“Emma. Hey. It’s going to be okay.” His voice was as deep and rumbly as usual, yet also softer than I’d ever thought possible. He set my journal on the coffee table. “C’mere.”

The arm around my shoulders pulled me in tighter, and I went right where he guided me. My face pressed into his chest. His other arm closed around me so I was surrounded by warmth and his masculine scent.

I sobbed into his T-shirt. There was no stopping me now.

But he just sat there and held me, murmuring gentle words. “It’s going to be okay.” Stella got in on the act too, trying her best to crawl into our laps.

Eventually, my tear ducts ran dry. Ashford’s hand went to the back of my head, smoothing down my hair.

Stella cocked her head, looking up at us forlornly. He reached over and petted her head too.

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